*Datong is the name of the main character.
*Guasha: Chinese traditional medical treatment
Points to consider
Answers
Main Relationship Identified in the sample
Father & Son
Examples from sample:
The main relationship in the sample is that of a father and a son.
When Datong is asked whether he practiced Guasha to his son in court, he lies, saying that he did while it was actually his father who performed it. Thus, he is following his obligation to protect his father in return for the protection and care his father had given him in the past. This scene exemplifies the Confucianist relationship between a father and a son in which they cover up for each other, regardless of what the other has done.
Other relationship identified in the sample
Examples from sample:
Husband & Wife:
When Datong tries to take the blame of performing Guasha in place of his father, his wife protests. However, when Datong admonishes her for doing so and tells her to follow along, she obeys him and stays quiet. This shows the Confucianist relationship between husband and wife in each a wife is obliged to obey her husband and the husband provides his wife with protection and shelter in return.
Father & Son:
Datong and his son show this relationship as well when Datong hits his son because he hit the son of Datong's friend. Also, later it is revealed that Datong's son hit the other boy because he called Datong stupid. This scene shows the Confucianist relationship between a father and a son in which the father is obliged to teach his son what is right or wrong and the son is obliged to not act in a way that will embarrass his father.
Comparison between identified sample and Confucian ideals for relationships
Similarities:
Confucius said, “…Fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers. Straightness is to be found in such behavior.” (13:18). This idea is shown in the first clip where Datong lies that he practiced the Guasha to his son when he was accused for child abuse. The one who actually practiced the Guasha is his father but just in case some problem will happen, Datong states that he practiced the Guasha himself rather than telling the truth, that his father did it. Confucius also said, “In serving your father and mother you ought to dissuade them from doing wrong in the gentlest way. If you see your advice being ignored, you should not become disobedient but remain reverent. You should not complain even if in so doing you wear yourself out.”(4:18). This quote can be directly compared to the third scene because the wife does not directly tell the grandfather to stop smoking or to use a chopstick to eat. She is following the Confucius ideals stated in the quote above: to give opinions in the gentlest way and to just live with it if the parents ignore their opinions.
Differences:
Confucius said, “…Fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers. Straightness is to be found in such behavior.” (13:18). However, in the movie, Datong hits his son because his son has hit his friend. This is different from Confucius' philosophy because Datong did not cover up the bad deeds that his son did. Although this idea is present between the relationship with Datong and his father, it is not shown in the relationship between Datong and his son. Moreover, violence is an act going against the ideas of Confucius because he emphasized tolerance and generosity to obtain harmony, rather than violence.
(SCENE 1) From 8:11 to 8:57
(SCENE 2) From 5:20 to 6:25
(SCENE 3) From 8:11 to 9:04
*Datong is the name of the main character.
*Guasha: Chinese traditional medical treatment
Father & Son
The main relationship in the sample is that of a father and a son.
When Datong is asked whether he practiced Guasha to his son in court, he lies, saying that he did while it was actually his father who performed it. Thus, he is following his obligation to protect his father in return for the protection and care his father had given him in the past. This scene exemplifies the Confucianist relationship between a father and a son in which they cover up for each other, regardless of what the other has done.
Husband & Wife:
When Datong tries to take the blame of performing Guasha in place of his father, his wife protests. However, when Datong admonishes her for doing so and tells her to follow along, she obeys him and stays quiet. This shows the Confucianist relationship between husband and wife in each a wife is obliged to obey her husband and the husband provides his wife with protection and shelter in return.
Father & Son:
Datong and his son show this relationship as well when Datong hits his son because he hit the son of Datong's friend. Also, later it is revealed that Datong's son hit the other boy because he called Datong stupid. This scene shows the Confucianist relationship between a father and a son in which the father is obliged to teach his son what is right or wrong and the son is obliged to not act in a way that will embarrass his father.
Confucius said, “…Fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers. Straightness is to be found in such behavior.” (13:18). This idea is shown in the first clip where Datong lies that he practiced the Guasha to his son when he was accused for child abuse. The one who actually practiced the Guasha is his father but just in case some problem will happen, Datong states that he practiced the Guasha himself rather than telling the truth, that his father did it. Confucius also said, “In serving your father and mother you ought to dissuade them from doing wrong in the gentlest way. If you see your advice being ignored, you should not become disobedient but remain reverent. You should not complain even if in so doing you wear yourself out.”(4:18). This quote can be directly compared to the third scene because the wife does not directly tell the grandfather to stop smoking or to use a chopstick to eat. She is following the Confucius ideals stated in the quote above: to give opinions in the gentlest way and to just live with it if the parents ignore their opinions.
Differences:
Confucius said, “…Fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers. Straightness is to be found in such behavior.” (13:18). However, in the movie, Datong hits his son because his son has hit his friend. This is different from Confucius' philosophy because Datong did not cover up the bad deeds that his son did. Although this idea is present between the relationship with Datong and his father, it is not shown in the relationship between Datong and his son. Moreover, violence is an act going against the ideas of Confucius because he emphasized tolerance and generosity to obtain harmony, rather than violence.
Citations
Videos:
From youtube.com
- "刮痧 01." Sep. 9 2009. Online Video Clip. YouTube. 3 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMq9FDq_A0s&feature=related>
- "刮痧 03." Sep. 9 2009. Online Video Clip. YouTube. 3 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPnWBMRHSJ0>
Quotes:"CONFUCIAN QUOTES ON THE FIVE PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS." Globaled.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2011. <http://www.globaled.org/chinaproject/confucian/quotes1.html>.